Folding partition edging construction and edging therefor



Nov. 13, 1962 HQLLANDS 3,063,105

FOLDING PARTITION EDGING CONSTRUCTION AND EDGING THEREFOR Filed Feb. 24, 1960 INVENTOR EORGE HOL LANDS 3,063,105 FOLDING PARTITION EDGING CONSTRUCTION AND EDGING THEREFOR George Hollands, Franklin Square, N.Y., assignor to Torjesen, Inc, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 10,722 2 Claims. (Cl. 20-69) This invention relates to folding partition constructions, and more particularly to edging therefor.

My invention is concerned with the solution of problems incident to the use of folding partitions, whether accordion folded or bi-folding, pair-operating partitions, wherein multi-sections of panels or panels in pairs are employed, and which are moved from stacked position to extended position for room division, as well known. Such sections, in the stacked position, are subjected to abuse, and wear and tear at exposed edges. Where made of wood panelling or built up plies, such abuse soon effects loss of efficiency for light and sound insulation. When these panels are extended, unevenness of surface results, and particularly where efforts are made to insulating the meeting edges with rubber, these added components, which protrude, are soon destroyed or impaired in efficiency.

It is an object of my invention to provide a partition of hinged door panels, whether of accordion folded assembly, or bi-folding, pair-operating assembly, which is efficiently protected edgewise in both stacked and extended relation by a single form of metallic edging for the complementary, interfitting edges.

More particularly, my invention has for an object thereof the provision of an edging which obviates the necessity for rubber insulation while still serving to provide a tenuous path against the passage of sound and light when in the extended, inter-mating position.

Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide in combination with the door panels of folding partitions, metallic, preferably aluminum, or like extrudable, rugged edging which is economical to produce and install and in stacked position cooperates with the hinge members to align the pivot points accurately, and provide smooth, interfitting surfaces, and thereby present the surfaces of the panels in an even, uninterrupted relationship.

Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide in combination with the door panels of folding partitions, edging having hinge aligning portions whereby mating of the contiguous panels in extended position is effected efficiently, swing clearance is assured in hinging operations, alignment of mating panel surfaces is achieved by locating guides for hinge pintles while still providing light obscuring and sound insulation in the extended position of the panel assembly.

Still more particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide an economical, low cost, efficient edging for partitions in which a single, symmetrically tenuous strip may serve as the male and female component of the interfitting mating edges of hinge sections whereby substantial economies in installation and assembly or inventory of parts required is effected.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a partition in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the hinged edges of a pair of panels when stacked;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

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FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective sectional view of the hinged edge of a pair of panels;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of my invention.

I now make reference to the drawings wherein my invention concerns itself with a partition assembly 10 having a multiplicity of panel doors 11, 12, 13, fragments of which are shown, and which may constitute a series in dividirig a room, hinged either in accordion fashion as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, or in bi-folding pairs, as well recognized in the field. Each contiguous panel has its vertical edge 14 provided with a mortise groove 15, over which edge and groove there is positioned a strip 16. The strip 16 is preferably an aluminum alloy extrusion, a magnesium alloy, or even tough, extrudable plastics of the nylon type may be employed. The contacting face 17 thereof is defined by spaced flat contacting surfaces 18 and 19, medially provided with a longitudinally extended groove 20 adjacent to a longitudinally extended rib 21. The groove 20 is outlined by a reentrant angle corresponding in pitch to the outline of the rib 21 and perferably the side Walls of the groove and rib are angularly extended to each other and the surfaces 18 and 19 at an angle of 60, with the base 22 of the groove and the peak 23 of the rib generally cylindrical. The depth from the surface of the base 22 of the groove 20 and the peak 23 of the rib 21 is equally displaced to opposite faces of the contacting surfaces 18 and 19, the edge 24 adjacent the face 18 and groove 20, and the edge 25 adjacent the face 19 and rib 21 being arcuately formed. Likewise, the terminal edges 26 and 27 are arcuately formed, to avoid sharp edges.

The strips 16, on their rear surfaces 28, are mutually formed with right angularly outlined wales 29 and 30, spaced from each other to fit the side walls 31 and 32 of the mortise groove 15. The rear faces 23 of the sections 18 and 19 may be provided with slotted areas 33, 34 to add resiliency and improved surface contact, as will appear from the further description.

A construction as described may now be fitted to each of the panels, as shown at 12 and 13, by positioning the strips on the edges of each panel with contiguous edges, to be hinged to each other or on edges contacting the door frame, positioning the strips in parallelism and orienting the grooves 20 and ribs 21 in the same spacial position, the wales 29 and 30 interfitting the mortise groove 15. Adjacent edge surfaces of each panel on contiguous corners are periodically provided with hinge clearance cutouts 35, into which are positioned the leaves 36 of the hinges 37 so that the extreme edges 38 thereby abut the wales 29 and 30 facing each other. Thereupon, fastening screws 39 are passed through the strips to extend through the slots 33, 34, and through the leaves 36 of the hinges 37 into the edges of the panels 12 and 13, as will be understood. The slots thus avoid the need for clearing drill hole burrs.

When the construction is assembled as described, stacked operation will disclose the relationship of the strips as shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5. In the extended position of the panels, the hinging operation as shown in FIGURE 3 will position the edges into engagement with each other to provide a light obscuring and sound insulating contacting edge by reason of the tenuous contacting surface which the strips provide when they are interfitted. Contacting engagement serves to align, by camming operation, the

' front and rear faces of the panels with each other accurately, relieving the load on the hinges to keep the surfaces aligned, and with accurate swinging clearance about the pintle of each of the hinges 37. A single extrusion die and one type of strip is all that is required, as it is necessary only to reverse the position of a length of the strip so that each contiguous edge of an adjacent panel positions a strip in parallelism.

The construction as provided by me therefore effects substantial economies in that only one type of strip is provided. Each panel edge is uniformly mortised, Without the necessity for alternate tongue and groove finishing to mate contiguous edges. Accordingly, not only is there provided economy in making finishing strips but in the finishing of the panels to be assembled.

In FIGURE 6 I have shown a construction for further enhancing the value of the strip 16 with regard to sound and light insulation. In this form, the strip 16, before afiixing to the panel edges, may have applied to the face serving as the exposed edge, a thin layer 40 of foamed sheeting. I prefer foamed polyurethane sheeting having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 41. The composite may be applied to surface 42, firmly to adhere to the surface 42 and provide a layer in the nature of an elastic shim. Edges 43, which are folded over the rear edges of the strips are tucked in position and secured by the same operation as attaching the strip 16.

When the panels are stacked, the exposed surface of foam sheeting protects the soft aluminum extrusion and protects furniture from being scratched. When the partition panels are extended, contiguous surfaces will interfit, even though greater clearance in hinge mounting may be necessary to allow for the added thickness of the foamy layer which has been applied. This construction as well as the bare edge strips will be recognized as useful not only in mating the meeting edges of accordion folded or bi-folding, pair-operating partitions, but also of bi-passing, bi-parting and sliding doors and the meeting edges of these panels with the door frames.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A stock edging material adapted to be cut into segments and secured to the adjacent edge portions of hingedly connected door panel members of a folding partition for aligning the face planes of said panel members when said panel members are oriented in edge-to-edge relation, comprising a longitudinally extended, generally planar band having substantially fiat front and rear co-planar faces and side marginal edges, and having a central portion disposed between said marginal edges of said band including a longitudinally extended rib on said front face projecting above the plane of said fiat front face, said rib being spaced to one side of the longitudinal center line of said band, a longitudinally extending groove portion formed in said front face of said band, extending below the plane of said flat rear face, said groove being located to the other side of said longitudinal center line, and spaced apart from said center line a distance equal to the spacing of said rib from said center line, said groove and rib having substantially complemental profiles, the rear face of said band including a centrally positioned, longitudinally extending portion projecting outwardly beyond said rear face adjacent the longitudinal center line of said band and disposed intermediate the side edges thereof and in sub stantial alignment with said rib.

2. A stock edging material in accordance with claim 1 wherein a side edge of said projecting portion and one ,edge of the groove remote from said projecting portion define a wale adapted to be received within apertures in the edges of said door panel members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,307,560 Apel Ian. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 266,137 Italy July 20, 1929 

